At the debate Tuesday night in Las Vegas, Republican presidential candidates competed to prove who would be best prepared as commander in chief to keep the country safe. Angie Holan of PolitiFact joins Gwen Ifill to examine some of the claims made by the candidates on vetting Syrian refugees and boosting border security.

The Federal Reserve is doing something it hasn't done since 2006: raising interest rates. The long-awaited announcement by Fed chair Janet Yellen hikes a key short-term rate from near zero. For a closer look at how the Fed made its decision, Gwen Ifill talks with David Wessel of the Brookings Institution and Tara Siegel Bernard of The New York Times.

The jury in the first trial on the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray returned after two days of deliberations to say they are deadlocked. Gray’s fatal injuries while in Baltimore police custody exposed deep cracks in the city’s criminal justice system and sparked protests. Gwen Ifill speaks to Juliet Linderman of the Associated Press about the charges against Officer William Porter.

Recent polls show Sen. Ted Cruz gaining ground in the Republican presidential race, while Ben Carson is slipping. Gwen Ifill speaks to Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report and Tamara Keith of NPR about Cruz’s surge and what to watch for in the upcoming GOP debate Tuesday night.

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee have released a new report on the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for releasing five Taliban inmates at Guantanamo Bay. To discuss the findings, Gwen Ifill talks to Rep. Vicky Hartzler, chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Loretta Sanchez, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Should race be a consideration in college admissions? For the second time in three years, the Supreme Court justices are considering the constitutionality of that question. Gwen Ifill examines the opposing viewpoints with Richard Kahlenberg of the Century Foundation and Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The threat of attacks at home can drive divisive and dangerous rhetoric. How do we keep our fear in check? Gwen Ifill explores that question with Ronald Brownstein of The Atlantic, Dalia Mogahed of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and Khaled Beydoun of the Barry University School of Law.

Who should be counted when states divvy up their territory for representation: all residents or only those who can vote? The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday involving the very nuts and bolts of how American democracy works. Marcia Coyle of The National Law Journal joins Gwen Ifill to discuss the case.

"A parade of political advisers and Cabinet officials in the Trump administration have come and gone. As many of you know from watching “Washington Week,” the departures often seem to come on Fridays — and shake up our plans at the last minute. They’ve also shaken up the president’s inner circle, casting aside some players and bringing in new ones."